Polish president to sign controversial Holocaust bill into law

Polish President Andrzej Duda said Tuesday he will sign a bill into law that makes it illegal to ascribe responsibility to Poles for Nazi crimes committed in World War II, AFP reported Tuesday.

The controversial law — known as the Amended Act on the Institute of National Remembrance — was approved in the Senate last week, despite strong international opposition, including from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the U.S. State Department.

Duda confirmed Tuesday he would sign the bill then refer it to the Constitutional Tribunal, which will examine whether it violates the Polish constitution.

The purpose of the legislation is to counter accusations of Polish anti-Semitism during the war, which the government deems unfair.

“We have to send a clear signal to the world that we won’t allow for Poland to continue being insulted,” Deputy Justice Minister Patryk Jaki said in parliament last week.

Related stories on these topics:

dc

Good move.
Avalanche of rac_ist anti-Polish lies have to be stopped finally !

– “Blaming Poland for the Holo_caust Is Unjustified There is one crucial difference between Poland and the other nations of Europe that came under German occupation”,
Moshe Arens – former member of the Knesset, Minister of Defense three times and once as Minister of Foreign Affairs, ambassador to the U.S. and professor at the Technion in Haifa.

– “I read the names of Je wish judges, prosecutors or agents of totalitarian secret police and I think: do I have the right to criticize Poles?”
Szewach Weiss, president of the Yad Vashem Council, former Israeli ambassador in Poland.

– “Dispute over Polish law feeds anti-Polish hysteria in Israel and online”
(…)
“So why the skewed history?
The Holo_caust is often taught without sufficient reference to which countries collaborated and resisted. Increasingly it is also universalized and the Na zis are portrayed as not German Na zis, but rather a general “evil.”
(…)
“it seems more convenient than mentioning the tens of thousands who volunteered for the SS in Austria, Belgium, Netherlands and the thousands who did so in Denmark, Norway and elsewhere. But this means countries like Poland that did not welcome Hi_tler or join the SS are not given sufficient credit. There is a historical difference between collaborationist countries, and those that resisted. Poland resisted.”
(…)
“It appears many wounds from the Holo_caust have no healed. That is reasonable. But what is unreasonable is the number of people spreading false history against Poland. This is because of a skewed attempt to whitewash Germany’s record because Germany has supposedly taken responsibility, and portray Poland as the “problem” for “denying.” But this warped sense flips history on its head. Poland is right to want the real history to be told and the story of Polish resistance and suffering under Na zism. Unfortunately too few people want to listen to the larger story.”
Seth J. Frantzman

Posted on 2/6/18 | 12:32 PM CET

wolf

Dear Politico: If you’ve included hashtag “Anti-Semitisn”, you should also include hashtag “Anti-Polonism”.

Posted on 2/6/18 | 1:14 PM CET

dc

@wolf
Exactly !

As well as “rac_ism” and “fake news” like those of prominent Israeli politicians like Yair Lapid or journalists – like Lahav Harkov about “Polish death camps” that NEVER existed – the very lie that was an inspiration to introduce that law.

Posted on 2/6/18 | 1:33 PM CET

Janush

“makesit illegal to ascribe responsibility to Poles for Nazi crimes”

Not precisely. It makes illegal to ascribe responsibility to polish NATION or polish state (not individual Poles) for German/Nazi crimes. That is the source of all conflict.

Posted on 2/6/18 | 1:50 PM CET

Veritas-Semper

Poland’s president reaches a decision worthy of Solomon. By signing the law which protects Poland from false accusations and defamation, he asserts Poland’s inalienable right to enact its own laws without outside pressure. At the same time, he acknowledges the emotions that were raised and sends the signed law to the Constitutional Court to ascertain whether:

1. The law meets Poland’s constitutional standards
2. The law does not block the right of free speech

There is no question in my mind that the law does neither. However, the immediate effect will quiet the unjustified uproar which started in Tel Aviv and at the same time will address US questions as to the reasonableness of the law as well as the rule of law itself by letting the court explain the merits of the law.

Congrats, Mr. President. Well done.

Posted on 2/6/18 | 1:53 PM CET

Veritas-Semper

@ dc

Agree, wholeheartedly!

Posted on 2/6/18 | 1:56 PM CET

jott

@ Veritas Semper – so there is “no question on your mind” regarding this Polish Holocaust law. What is on your mind, however, is perfectly irrelevant; of relevance will be the interpretations given to this law by the cohorts of self-appointed nationalist hunters of any imagined transgression against the “Polish Nation”, the follow-up given to their complaints by non-independent prosecutors, and the verdicts handed down by the local courts. All of this is one big unknown. Unknown, contrary to your optimistic forecasting, are also the reactions of Israel and US to Duda’s decision. The only thing that is known at this stage is that Duda passed the hot potato to Poland’s constitutional court, otherwise known to be non-independent and fully subservient to the wishes of Poland’s current rulers.

Posted on 2/6/18 | 3:01 PM CET

European reader

@ dc:

Instead of talking to yourself (and yourselves), you should listen to what the Jews have to say about Polish anti-Semitism before, during and after WWII, and about Polish collaboration with the Nazis.

Here’s an important article from the Jerusalem Post. The reports of the eye witnesses included in this article are very instructive:

JANUARY 30, 2018: READERS TAKE ON POLAND’S SELF-IMAGE FROM WORLD WAR II

“There is a compelling reason why the Nazis decided to place all six death camps on Polish soil.

“It’s not just because Jews lived there, as the standard Polish excuse goes. Hitler was mindful of public opinion at home and he didn’t want any death camps inside the Reich.

“The Nazis were fully aware of the pervasive pre-war Polish antisemitism and that there would be no opposition or repercussions from the Polish public – maybe even the locals would be thankful to the Germans for ridding Poland of its Jews.”

dc

@European reader
Does not matter how many times you repeat lies and fake news – they will remain what they are: blatant LIES and FAKE NEWS which have nothing to do with historical facts.

Polish underground and Polish government in exile first sent reports and emissaries to inform about holocaust Western powers as well as Je wish organizations in the US to start actions to save them – for example bomb railways leading to German death camps. Information about genocide of Je ws have been completely ignored: not only by US president Roosevelt but also by prominent Je ws and leaders of Je wish organizations like: Felix Frankfurter – member of US highest court and close friend of US president, rabbi Stephen Wise, Nahum Goldmann – representing Je wish Agency or Morris Waldman representing American Je wish Committee that emissary of Polish government in exile and Polish hero – Jan Karski met in person and tried to convince to do something to save European Je ws. This is one of the darkest pages in Je wish history. This total indifference pushed to suicide Shmul Zygelbojm – member of Polish parliament in exile in London representing Je wish Bund, desperate that Western powers and Western Je wish organizations completely ignore terrible circumstances of Je ws in Europe.

Genocide of Poles has been ignored in exactly the same way. During WWII German and Soviet totalitarian occupiers murdered altogether 6 million Polish citizens, of which: 3 million Je ws and 3 million non-Jews – mainly ethnic Poles.

There is no way that blame for those genocides can be whitewashed from German and Soviet totalitarian regimes like some try to do that here !

Posted on 2/6/18 | 3:18 PM CET

Polish complexes for all to see

Poles want to be seen as heroes, when in fact during WWII, most of them were anything but.

Posted on 2/6/18 | 3:20 PM CET

croc

Holocaust bill? or Amended Act on the Institute of National Remembrance? Once you name it Holocaust be sure it will be controversial. But where is the controversy… in calling concentration camps for what they were German and not Polish? in not accepting unfounded claims by some that Poland has assisted Germans in Holocaust, in fighting for the recognition of 6 mln of polish citizens who died at the hands of Germans (half of the Catholics or Christian poles and half of them Jews). Seems to me as if Israel had for too long monopoly on being WWII victim that they now completely disregard the sufferings of other nations and anyone in Europe who does not take full responsibility for Holocaust.

Posted on 2/6/18 | 3:22 PM CET

Veritas-Semper

@ Jott

As usual, overinterpretation reigns supreme in the leftard media and obviously is driving your opinion.

Very similar approach akin to Nancy Pelosi’s “Armageddon tax reform” in the US followed up by “crumbs to the taxpayers” (it can’t be both). And, “Shifty” Schift’s criticism of the Congrssional memo which was supposed to reveal methods and systems of the FBI, followed up as the “nothing burger” (it can’t be both). Mass hysteria reigns supreme in the leftard media which is now afraid to shed light on the issue at hand. How hypocritical of the left who always touted FULL DISCLOSURE!

So, by comparison: if Poland’s Holoc__aust law is going to be so ineffective and can’t be prosecuted outside of Poland, what is the problem? Why such an uproar?

And, if it is meant to stop free speech, what is the problem of testing this theory in court?

FULL DISCLOSURE is the best move forward and let’s see the FACTS.

Posted on 2/6/18 | 3:23 PM CET

croc

Poles do not need to be seen as heros we just do not want a German TV station ZDF telling Germans that the concentration camps were not german but polish.
As for heros, France Holland and Belgum after months of war preparations were defeated quicker by Germans than Poland who was attacked unprepared by two countries one from the west and one from the east. west of Europe preferred collaborating with Nazi

Posted on 2/6/18 | 3:37 PM CET

Scorpio

A puppet has signed. Good. Point taken.

Posted on 2/6/18 | 4:11 PM CET

rob22

Ms Hervey wants to write but doesn’t want to read.
So what is the purpose of this law? Just try to read it Ms Hervey.

Posted on 2/6/18 | 5:16 PM CET

Tatar

The old desire of Germans to spread their genocidal guilt across Europe bears fruit.

Posted on 2/6/18 | 5:32 PM CET

dc

@Tatar
But why prominent Israeli politicians collaborate with Germans on that ?!?
This is beyond understanding not just for grossly in this way offended Poles.

The letter of Lord Belhaven and Stenton to “Daily Telegraph” that “Daily Telegraph” refused to publish – by the way – so apparently also “Daily Telegraph” prefers to repeat fake news after some Israeli politicians and Germans (ZDF for example) than acknowledge the truth.

” Sir,
Benjamin Netanyahu states that „Is rael has no tolerance for distorting of the truth, the re writing of history, and denial of Holocaust”. The statement refers to the proposal to make it illegal in Poland the description of the concentration and death camps in Poland as Polish camps. It must be clear to Mr Netanyahu that the death and concentration camps in Poland during the Second World War were German camps. They were run by Goverment of Germany, not by Polish Goverment which was in exile- or are we supposed to pretend that Hans Frank Himler, Heidrich, et al were Polish!

That is as mad as denying the Holocaust so it is hard to understand wy Mr Netanyahu levels that accusation against Poles.
The victims of German barbarism were Poles as well as Je ws. The penalty in occupied Poland for helping a Je w was death not only for helper but for his family. Some Poles were brave enough to risk this fate. I wonder if Mr Netanyahu would be brave enough to help a Pole were the situation to be reversed.

Your faithfully,
Lord Belhaven and Stenton”

Posted on 2/6/18 | 6:10 PM CET

croc

RasmusDenmark

What a totally unnecessary law. Only (Nazi)Germany is truly responsible for holocaust and nobody really questions that. This stupid will only fuel nationalist retoric as we see it between Israel and Poland right now. But maybe that is the whole purpose?

The only good thing about laws like that is that they often backfire.

Posted on 2/6/18 | 7:03 PM CET

C.C.

The difference is not only a practical one (both Israel and Germany are much more of a match, being high-tech nations who cooperate on a wide range of scientific, business and military issues), but an ethical one:

Germany has acknowledged its responsibility for the Holocaust and redeemed itself, while Poland does not want to face the crimes committed by Poles against Jews during WWII (as collaborators or independently of the Nazis) and thereafter.

Posted on 2/6/18 | 11:36 PM CET

Polish Holocaust denial

What’s happening in Poland is SICK.

Posted on 2/6/18 | 11:38 PM CET

Europeans for the rule of law

We Europeans are fed-up with the PiSlamists‘ populist Kulturkampf. PL would do us all do a favour with leaving the EU, asap.